“The high level of use we’re seeing after only being open for one week in mid-November is remarkable.” — David Roth, City of Eugene Associate Transportation Planner

The City of Eugene — where a higher percentage of people commute by bike than in Portland according to the most recent U.S. Census numbers — is celebrating the opening of the Delta Ponds Bridge. The $5.6 million, 1,000 foot long bridge crosses Delta Highway just north of Valley River Center and serves as a key link in Eugene’s paved trail system.

The bridge connects the well-used Ruth Bascom Riverbank Trail in the Valley River area to the Cal Young neighborhood in north Eugene.

David Roth, Associate Transportation Planner for the City of Eugene says the new bridge creates a direct connection between a large residential area and Eugene’s world-class riverbank path network. Reached via email today, Roth said that the bridge is not only a key in Eugene’s recreation and transportation network, but it also, “Serves as a visually striking landmark for the city”. How are people liking it so far? Roth says, “We were confident the bridge would be popular among community residents, however the high level of use we’re seeing after only being open for one week in mid-November is remarkable.”

The new bridge was paid for in part by a $2.25 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration through the Transportation Enhancements program (that is, ironically, now coming under fire from AAA and amid talks of an earmark ban in Congress). Learn more about the project on the City of Eugene’s website.

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Comments

NickNovember 23, 2010 at 2:56 pm

Quite enviable. I wish we had more non-auto bridges spanning our freeways and other obstacles.

You comment made me want to remind us all of the Portland project completed only a couple of years ago on the Springwater Corridor, creating bridges across 3 crossing obstacles (a busy and difficult-to-cross roadway and two railways, if my memory serves me correctly). So we have celebrated successes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to work for more.

The new bridge is close to my home. It is so beautiful and the lighting is fantastic. We are going to be using it a lot for sure. Vote Richard Hughes for GEARs President.http://eugenegears.org/2010elections

I remember reading about this bridge in the past around the time of the discussions about possible re-use of the Sauvie Isl Bridge at Flanders St. It represented a very important transportation link between two areas in the general area.

Glad the bridge is done and people are enjoying the use of it. As to the aesthetic design on the bridge, well…definitely a break from the tradition of graceful curvilinear arches.

Oregon’s most bike-friendly city strikes again! I love this bridge and its implied dominance over the highway below. This should help connect these two neighborhoods like never before, can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future in Eugene.

The I205 path should go under Division. There is room next to the tracks. In fact, if you look at the satellite view on Google maps, you can see that there is already a path there, but it’s not open to the public. It would be way cheaper to go under.

Paulie The I205 path should go under Division. There is room next to the tracks. In fact, if you look at the satellite view on Google maps, you can see that there is already a path there, but it’s not open to the public. It would be way cheaper to go under.

Correction: there is a path partially there. It stops under Division. But still could be completed on a shoestring, relative to a bridge.